City of Lancaster, PA

Support the Lancaster City Welcome Initiative Planning Process!

The survey has now closed and results are being tabulated!

Stay tuned for upcoming community meetings to share the results. If you’d like to get involved in next step tourism master planning efforts as part of the Welcome Lancaster Initiative, please use the form below to register your interest and share your contact information.

Building on Lancaster City’s Historic Welcoming Tradition

For hundreds of years the City of Lancaster has embraced a rich welcoming tradition. This has brought valuable growth to our businesses, local economy, city, and residents. Continuing this tradition and building on this opportunity starts with you! Your input is extremely valuable and will help guide our future planning. We invite you to learn more, and get involved!

Hey Lancaster City!

Support the Lancaster City Welcome Initiative planning process!

The City of Lancaster has been internationally recognized as one of the most welcoming cities in the world with more diversity (per capita) than any other place in the United States. Leaning into the opportunity this creates, city leaders are proactively thinking about the city’s assets and how we can create more opportunities to welcome visitors in support of the local economy.

The Lancaster City Welcome Initiative is a grant-funded project and a formal process to build the city’s first official tourism master plan. It is aimed at maximizing the tourism economy and increasing the economic potential of the city. This effort is a follow-on initiative directed by the Our Future Lancaster plan. The Lancaster City Welcome Initiative plan will focus on leveraging local attractions, as well as the rich history, natural beauty, and cultural heritage of the city to attract visitors from near and far, boost the local economy, increase local quality of life, and emphasize the unique assets that make this city a wonderful place to live, work, play, and visit.

As the planning process progresses additional project updates, events, and opportunities to engage will be posted to this website.

For more information contact Cheila Huettner at [email protected].

Your Voice Matters – Take the survey!

Look for an extra-large postcard in the mail the week of February 12, 2024. This is your formal invitation to participate in a community-wide survey and to help shape the city’s approach to tourism related investments and promotions for the next ten years.

Why wait? Just find a quiet place with a reliable internet connection, and set aside approximately 30 minutes to take the survey.

(Don’t delay – Survey closes March 25, 2024!)

Begin Survey
Help us do the most good for our community and impact the future of Lancaster City by participating in the survey and supporting the Lancaster City Welcome Initiative. Your input will help shape how visitors experience the city and how our residents and diverse local businesses and attractions can benefit from their presence.
Marshall SnivelyPresident, Lancaster City Alliance
It is always wonderful to have a robust & steady stream of new eyes on our shop!  Very often, visitors fall in love with our charming city, and return season after season.  A shop like ours depends on collecting new people like this. The effect is cumulative & essential to our success.
Leigh Moss & Alicia BylerCo-Owners of Telltale Dress
The Lancaster Welcome Initiative is a brilliant opportunity to learn more about what makes this city tick, from the business, tourism, and culture perspectives.  I am incredibly excited to define and project our identity to the world — so locals continue to be proud of who we are, and more people are drawn to be part of this special and diverse place.  Let’s not rest on our laurels but be proactive about recognizing our assets and building on them to power this unique economy.
Chris DelfsDirector of Community Planning & Economic Development, City of Lancaster

Sign Up for Updates from the Lancaster City Welcome Initiative


    YesNo


    Did you know tourism brings…

    $38 Billion

    $38 Billion

    in direct visitor spending to Pennsylvania annually

    $7.9 Billion

    $7.9 Billion

    in direct visitor spending for the Dutch Country Roads Region annually

    $2.5 Billion

    $2.5 Billion

    in direct visitor spending for Lancaster County (inclusive of the city!) annually